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Re: Technical Camera Images

Silver Efex Pro 2 - simply awesome.

Originally Posted by Jack

Very nice Graham! Got to love the way the big, clean MF files convert to B&W -- so far nothing else comes close

The tonality in the IQ files are so very impressive. You can really bring out the subtle tonal transitions although you do have to be careful with SFX because it'll push the tonality to the point where the mosaic of the raw file will become visible. I had a few instances where I had to back off stretching the tones because the edges of the sensor frames started to come through leaving ugly horizontal/vertical transitions.

I can definitely relate to the issues that Wayne was having with his IQ180 when the files get massaged.

Re: Technical Camera Images

Originally Posted by GrahamWelland

Silver Efex Pro 2 - simply awesome.

The tonality in the IQ files are so very impressive. You can really bring out the subtle tonal transitions although you do have to be careful with SFX because it'll push the tonality to the point where the mosaic of the raw file will become visible. I had a few instances where I had to back off stretching the tones because the edges of the sensor frames started to come through leaving ugly horizontal/vertical transitions.
I can definitely relate to the issues that Wayne was having with his IQ180 when the files get massaged.

I use SILVER EFEX PRO 2 as well . I have it since a couple of weeks only and am still doing tests . As there are so many presets , sometimes I don't know , which one to use , which one is best .

Re: Technical Camera Images

Jürgen

That looks excellent!

I tend to start with the presets and experiment with the image to see what look works. I don't use the film presets at all nor do I use the filters very often other than to experiment. I'm at the point now where I'm building my own recipes that match my view of B&W with a consistent 'look'. I expect this'll change over time but certainly one preset isn't going to work for all images.

Re: Technical Camera Images

Jack,

I'd agree that the B&W pure conversions in C1 are very powerful if you're well versed in the various colour blends. What SFX provides in addition that C1 can't provide is the much more powerful local adjustment control (via control points and various adjustment parameters) plus the tonal range adjustments that you'd normally achieve through lot's of curve layers & masks. The adjustment layers and masking in C1 is relatively crude IMHO by comparison at this time so I tend to prepare the colour image in C1 so that I have a full tonal range starting point and then it's off to PS for the B&W and subsequent adjustments.

I guess that where I start to get burnt is when the tonal adjustments are based on the rendered TIFF out of C1 where there might only be 1 or 2 points of difference in colour/tone between mosaics. These ultimately get stretched to the point where they may become visible where I'm sure that if you could easily do the same manipulation in C1 that the raw rendering algorithms would adjust for this.

In this case though I'm happy to drive an automatic vs stick shift for now

Re: Technical Camera Images

Graham,

I do not use C1's local adjustments, they simply are too far behind CS. So my workflow -- as you know! -- is I process what I refer to as an "ideal digital negative" in C1 to work with, then export it to CS for the "printing" steps of the process, i.e. sizing, dodge, burn, gradients, etc. CS is a perfect tool for output still, and offers way more control than the generic local adjustments found in other programs including LR and SFX. I do have SFX loaded into CS, but honestly have not touched it since C1 added their outstanding B&W tool...

Re: Technical Camera Images

Admin edit to add photo:

Originally Posted by danlindberg

Dan

I like the movement in this image and the industrial nature of the subject.
Not sure how this will go as far as rendering your image in this post - if it goes pear shaped and the image is all wrong - my apologies.

Re: Technical Camera Images

Originally Posted by coulombic

What kind of GND filters did you use for this? Color cast seems rather seems rather prominent (purple/magenta tones nearer to the top).

It's an old Lee. I just hand hold it in front of the lens+polarizing.
Could that have brought about the magenta? I was thinking it was when I darkened and clarified the sky during post processing...
Thanks for sharing thoughts about this. I have always struggled with magenta in sky's...
Best,
Bob

Re: Technical Camera Images

Originally Posted by rga

It's an old Lee. I just hand hold it in front of the lens+polarizing.
Could that have brought about the magenta? I was thinking it was when I darkened and clarified the sky during post processing...
Thanks for sharing thoughts about this. I have always struggled with magenta in sky's...
Best,
Bob

Absolutely, it would have imparted the magenta. I had a set of Hitech grads that did the same thing. Contemporary Lee filters are very clean, as are Singh-Ray. I'd imagine you could fix this reasonably easily with C1, however, with Advanced Color Edit, changing the hue to what it actually was, and applying masks if necessary.

Re: Technical Camera Images

I have not shown any professional assignment on the forum. Main reason is copyright issues and normal respect towards a paying client. Right now I have a cluster of large exclusive villas to photograph and I have been given permission to show a few interiors of this particular villa. I cannot show any exterior shots and there are plenty more inside as well, with huge gamesroom, wine cellar, 7 bedrooms, cinemaroom, library etc etc. but still thought it could be interesting to show my style when working weekdays assignments

These samples are all shot with the Alpa Max with the Schneider SuperDigitar 28 XL. All have movements, either rise or fall, between 5mm-10mm.

All are shot in ambient light with exposures ranging from 8 seconds to 16 seconds. All with iso 25.

Re: Technical Camera Images

Dan, I have to say I admire both your landscapes and now your professional work.
If the works you put on the forum don't make people realize it is the photographer and not just the latest and greatest gear that make the image art; nothing will.
Lowly Aptus II 5 my behind.